Soda straw dispenser

ABSTRACT

A soda straw dispenser consisting of a stationary, horizontal cylindrical container adapted to contain soda straws loosely therein parallel to its axis, one or more elongated straw carriers disposed in the container parallel and eccentric to its axis and manually rotatable about the container axis to pick up a single straw and transport it to the top of the container, where it is extracted from the carrier and conveyed to a point exterior to the container where it may be manually grasped for removal.

llnite States Patent 1191 1111 3,841,531

Merila Oct. 15, 1974 SODA STRAW DISPENSER [76] inventor: 161m B. Merila, 6223 E. 127111 St., Examlls,tanley e Grandview MO. 64030 Attorney, Agent, or FzrmJ0hn A. Hami ton [22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 384,961 A soda straw dispenser consisting of a stationary, honzontal cylindrical container adapted to contain soda [52] 1.1.5. Cl. 221/189 Straws loosely therein parallel to its axis, one or more [51] 11111. Cl. B65g 65/48 elongated Straw carriers disposed in the containsr Pap [581 Field of Search 221/1881 allel and eccentric to its axis and manually rotatable 221/263, 266, 237, 233, 277, 169, 192, 195, about the container axis to pick up a single straw and 196, 175, 176, 225, 186, 1 189 transport it 16 the top 611116 container, where it is extracted from the carrier and conveyed to a point exte- [516] References cued rior to the container where it may be manually UNITED STATES PATENTS grasped for removal.

1,085,574 l/l9l4 Bryant 221/186 1,182,920 5/1916 Martin et 1. 221/189 6 Clams 7 Drawmg Flgures SODA STRAW DISPENSER This invention relates to new and useful improvements in soda straw dispensers, and has as its principal object the provision of a dispenser operable manually to pick up straws one at a time from a large number of straws carried loosely in a container, and to deliver the selected straw to a point external to the container. Thus, each straw need not be touched except by the person who makes ultimate use thereof.

Generally, this object is accomplished by the provision of a container comprising a fixed hollow cylinder with its axis disposed horizontally, into which straws to be dispensed may be deposited in a loose mass in generally parallel relation to the container axis, an elongated carrier disposed in the container parallel to its axis, and adjacent its periphery, manually operable means for turning the carrier around the container axis so that once in each revolution it passes through the mass of straws, the carrier being so contoured that as it passes through the mass it engages a single straw and transports it to the top portion of the container, and means carried by the container and operable to extract the straw from the carrier and deposit it in a chute disposed externally of the container.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, and efficiency and dependability of operation.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a soda straw dispenser embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line III- -lll of FIG. 2, with parts left in elevation and partially broken away,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line lV-IV of FIG. 3, showing a number of straws in the container,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, showing the parts in the position assumed when a straw has been transported by a carrier to the top of the container, but before it is extracted from the carrier,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the parts in the position assumed as the straw is extracted from the carrier, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIG. 3.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to the straw container of the dispenser. Said container is hollow and cylindrical, with its axis disposed horizontally, and may be formed of any suitable material such as plastic. The material also may be transparent, in order to permit visual observation of the dispenser operation, although this is not pertinent to the invention per se. The operation is interesting to a casual observer,

and renders the dispenser a conversation piece. The

container is somewhat longer than the straws 4 to be dispensed, and is closed at each end by an end wall 6 which is press-fitted therein. Each end wall is provided with a leg 8 mounted at its lower end in a base It), by which the container is supported in a stationary position. An angular portion of the cylindrical wall of the container is cut away to form a filling opening 12 through which straws may be inserted into the container, the width of the opening being slightly greater than the length of the straws.

At the upper edge of opening 12, and extending the full width thereof, the container is formed to present an outwardly and downwardly inclined hood member 14 consisting of a planar, outwardly and downwardly inclined top wall 16 and depending side walls 18, the spacing between said side walls being equal to the width of opening 12. Said side walls extend beyond the outer edge of top wall 16, and each side wall has a notch 20 formed in its lower edge. Hood 14 is disposed forwardly of the top line of the container.

Filling opening 12 may be closed by a cover 22 overlying said opening, and curved to the cylindrical contour of the container. At the edge of the opening distal from hood 14, cover 22 is provided with a tooth 24 (see FIG. 4) engageable inside of the container wall, and at the edge of the cover adjacent hood 14, the cover is provided with an angled wall 26 which is parallel to top wall 16 of the hood but spaced below wall l6 by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a straw,

whereby to define a chute 28 therebetween. Wall 26 is planar, engaging the lower edges of hood side walls 18. It extends outwardly to the outer ends of side walls 18 and is turned upwardly around the ends of side walls 18 as indicated at 30. The central portion of the outer edge of wall 26, and of its turned-up lip 30, is cut away to fonn a finger notch 32 within which a straw 4 may conveniently be grasped, as will appear. At each extreme side edge, wall 26 is provided on its upper surface with a rounded boss 34 engageable in the notch 20 of the corresponding hood side wall 18. This holds the cover in assembly with the container, but the cover is sufficiently flexible that the bosses may be disengaged from the notches by exerting a downward manual pressure on the upturned lip 30 of the cover, so that said cover may be removed when required. Wall 26 also projects into container 2, its inner edge being spaced inwardly from the inner surface of the container by a distance slightlygreater than the diameter of a straw. This inwardly projecting portion of wall 26 is cut to form a series of regularly spaced teeth 36 with alternating notches 38, as best shown in FIG. 3.

Carried within container 2 are a plurality, three as shown, of straw carriers 40. They are supported by a pair of end discs 42 which are of slightly smaller diameter than the internal diameter of container 2, are concentric with the container, and are disposed respectively at the inner sides of end walls 6. Affixed in each disc 42 is a stub axle 44 which projects outwardly through and is rotatably journalledl in the adjacent end wall 6, and has a knob 46 affixed thereon externally of the end wall.

Each carrier 40 is of slender, elongated form, extending between and secured at its ends, as by screws 48, to discs 42, whereby in combination with said discs to form an open cage designated generally by the numeral 50, which may be rotated about the axis of container 2 by turning either of knobs 46 manually. The spacing between end discs 42 is slightly greater than the length of straws 4. Carriers 40, three of which are shown but the specific number of which is optional, are spaced eccentrically apart from the cage axis and spaced at regular angular intervals about said axis. The radially outward surface of each carrier, along its entire length, is arcuately concave in contour to form a trough 52, said trough being spaced apart from the adjacent inner periphery of the container by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a straw 4. The angular extent of the trough curvature is such that its leading edge portion, when the cage 50 is rotated in the direction of arrow 54 in FIG. 4, is inclined upwardly when the carrier passes the top midline of the carrier, and remains upwardly inclined at least until the carrier has moved further forwardly to be aligned with teeth 36 of wall 26. At the trailing edge of the trough, the carrier is formed to present a radially outwardly extending wall 56, which projects to the cylindrical surface defined by the peripheries of end discs 42. It may be inclined slightly rearwardly relative to its direction of travel when rotated in accordance with arrow 54, as shown. Wall 56 is slotted similarly to wall 26, to present alternate teeth 58 and notches 60. Notches 60 extend through trough 52, and are somewhat deeper than trough 52, so that the trough supports a straw 4 somewhat above the bases of said notches, and the bases of the notches are spaced slightly closer to the cage axis than the inner ends of teeth 36. The teeth 58 of the carrier are staggered longitudinally of the cage relative to teeth 36, so as to pass between the latter when the cage is rotated.

In operation, cover 22 is first removed as previously described and a quantity of straws 4 are inserted as shown in FIG. 4, through opening 12, and the cover reapplied. ln filling the container, care should be exercised not to insert so many straws that they enter or obstruct chute 28, or obstruct the teeth 36 of wall 26, when the dispenser is upright and supported by base 10. Then, to dispense a straw, cage 50 is rotated by manipulation of either of knobs 46, in the direction of arrow 54 in FIG. 4. During this rotation, each of straw carriers 40 passes downwardly, then rearwardly and upwardly, through the mass of straws supported in the lower portion of container 2. This motion agitates the straws with a stirring action which both tends to realign any straws which may previously have been disarranged into a parallel relation to the cage axis, and also very reliably insures that one straw will become lodged between the interior surface of the container and the carrier wall 56 at the trailing edge of carrier trough 52, so that said straw will then be pushed on around the container by said wall 56. When the carrier emerges upwardly from the mass of straws at the rearward por tion of the container, and to a point that wall- 56 becomes upwardly inclined toward its outer edge, the straw settles into trough 52 by gravity, and any other straws which may have been pushed ahead of the carrier fall back to the bottom portion of the container. Then, as the carrier crosses the top of the container and starts forwardly and downwardly toward teeth 36 of chute wall 26, the upward inclination of the leading edge portion of the trough prevents the trapped straw from falling out of the trough, as shown in FIG. 5. Then, as shown in H6. 6, continued rotation of the cage causes teeth 36 of chute wall 26 to pass through the notches 60 of the carrier, so that fingers 36 pass beneath the straw and lift it from carrier trough 52. The straw is then supported by teeth 36, and rolls downwardly by gravity along wall 26 until it is stopped by the upturned lip 30 of said wall. Actually, as will be seen, carrier wall 56 mechanically pushes the straw downwardly along chute wall 26 for a considerable distance, preventing any possibility that the straw could acciden' tally fall back into container 2. When a straw comes to reset against lip30, it is still firmly retained against accidental displacement, being supported by wall 26 and its lip 30, and restrained against longitudinal movement by side walls 18 of hood 14, as shown in FIG. 2. How ever, it may then conveniently be grasped within finger notch 32 of wall 26 for easy removal.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A soda straw dispenser comprising:

a. a fixed, generally cylindrical hollow container with its axis disposed horizontally and adapted to contain a quantity of straws therein parallel to the axis thereof, said straws each being of a given length and diameter, and having a downwardly and outwardly inclined chute communicating with the upper portion thereof, said chute being of sufficient width to receive therein a straw parallel to the container axis,

b. a cage disposed concentrically in said container and rotatable therein,

c. manual means for rotating said cage,

(1. an elongated straw carrier mounted in said cage eccentrically to the axis thereof and operable by rotation of said cage to pick up a straw from those carried in the container and to transport said straw to the top portion of the container, and

e. cooperating members carried respectively by said chute and said carrier interiorly of said container and operable by rotation of said cage to extract said straw from said carrier and to discharge it into said chute.

2. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said trough is provided at its outer end with an upturned lip operable to arrest the downward movement of a straw therein, and has a top opening at the outer end portion thereof, whereby said straw may be conveniently grasped and removed.

3. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said cage comprises a pair of end discs disposed normally to the container axis within respectively opposite end portions of said container, said end discs being rotatable coaxially of the container by said manual means, and being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of a straw, with one or more of said carriers extending between and affixed at their ends to said end discs, in parallel but radially offset relation to the axis of cage rotation.

4. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 3 wherein said container is provided with end walls spaced outwardly from said cage end discs, and wherein each of said end discs is provided with an axle extending outwardly through and journalled in the associated container end wall, said manual means constituting means for turning either or both of said axles.

5. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said straw carrier is slender and elongated in form, extending parallel to the container axis but offset radially therefrom, said carrier having an angular thickness not more than slightly greater than the diameter of a straw, and having a transversely arcuate trough in the radially outward edge thereof adapted to receive a straw therein, the leading edge of said trough, relative to its direction of rotation, being spaced apart from the inner periphery of said container by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a straw, and having a radially extending wall along the trailing edge of said trough, the outer edge of said wall being spaced apart from the inner periphery of said container by a distance substantially less than the diameter of a straw, whereby as said cage is rotated, a single straw will be trapped within the trough of said carrier.

6. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 5 wherein said carrier is notched radially inwardly at intervals along its length, said notches extending through said carrier wall and to a depth slightly greater than the depth of said trough, whereby to leave projecting teeth between said notches, and wherein said chute has a plamar bottom wall projecting into said container to a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a straw, the inner edge of said chute wall being spaced slightly farther from the cage axis than the roots of said carrier notches, said chute wall being notched at intervals along its length, whereby to leave projecting teeth between said notches, said carrier teeth being staggered relative to said chute teeth in a direction parallel to the cage axis, whereby the former pass between the latter as said cage is rotated, said carrier teeth and said chute teeth constituting said cooperating means whereby a straw is extracted from said carrier and discharged into said chute as said carrier passes said chute teeth during rotation of said cage. 

1. A soda straw dispenser comprising: a. a fixed, generally cylindrical hollow container with its axis disposed horizontally and adapted to contain a quantity of straws therein parallel to the axis thereof, said straws each being of a given length and diameter, and having a downwardly and outwardly inclined chute communicating with the upper portion thereof, said chute being of sufficient width to receive therein a straw parallel to the container axis, b. a cage disposed concentrically in said container and rotatable therein, c. manual means for rotating said cage, d. an elongated straw carrier mounted in said cage eccentrically to the axis thereof and operable by rotation of said cage to pick up a straw from those carried in the container and to transport said straw to the top portion of the container, and e. cooperating members carried respectively by said chute and said carrier interiorly of said container and operable by rotation of said cage to extract said straw from said carrier and to discharge it into said chute.
 2. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said trough is provided at its outer end with an upturned lip operable to arrest the downward movement of a straw therein, and has a top opening at the outer end portion thereof, whereby said straw may be conveniently grasped and removed.
 3. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said cage comprises a pair of end discs disposed normally to the container axis within respectively opposite end portions of said container, said end discs being rotatable coaxially of the container by said manual means, and being spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the length of a straw, with one or more of said carriers extending between and affixed at their ends to said end discs, in parallel but radially offset relation to the axis of cage rotation.
 4. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 3 wherein said container is provided with end walls spaced outwardly from said cage end discs, and wherein each of said end discs is provided with an axle extending outwardly through and journalled in the associated container end wall, said manual means constituting means for turning either or both of said axles.
 5. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said straw carrier is slender and elongated in form, extending parallel to the container axis but offset radially therefrom, said carrier having an angular thickness not more than slightly greater than the diameter of a straw, and having a transversely arcuate trough in the radially outward edge thereof adapted to receive a straw therein, the leading edge of said trough, relative to its direction of rotation, being spaced apart from the inner periphery of said container by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a straw, and having a radially extending wall along the trailing edge of said trough, the outer edge of said wall being spaced apart from the inner periphery of said container by a distance substantially less than the diameter of a straw, whereby as said cage is rotated, a single straw will be trapped within the trough of said carrier.
 6. A soda straw dispenser as recited in claim 5 wherein said carrier is notched radially inwardly at intervals along its length, said notches extending through said carrier wall and to a depth slightly greater than the depth of said trough, whereby to leave projecting teeth between said notches, and wherein said chute has a planar bottom wall projecting into said container to a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a straw, the inner edge of said chute wall being spaced slightly farther from the cage axis than the roots of said carrier notches, said chute wall being notched at intervals along its length, whereby to leave projecting teeth between said notches, said carrier teeth being staggered relative to said chute teeth in a direction parallel to the cage axis, whereby the former pass between the latter as said cage is rotated, said carrieR teeth and said chute teeth constituting said cooperating means whereby a straw is extracted from said carrier and discharged into said chute as said carrier passes said chute teeth during rotation of said cage. 